There was no official vote, but a majority of Lubbock City Council members favored a $60 million-project to build new police facilities without it going to a vote by the citizens.

During a work session Thursday afternoon, all seven members said they were on board with funding three police substations, a new police headquarters, municipal court building and a police property room as soon as possible.

But when it comes to how to pay for the project, a slight majority said they’d prefer to issue certificates of obligation bonds - bonds the council can issue without voter approval - rather than sending the proposal to the public. Council members Juan Chadis, Karen Gibson, Jeff Griffith and Latrelle Joy said the council is tasked with public safety decisions, including this project.

"I think everybody believes in community policing. I think this is a very well laid-out plan," said Griffith. "The how, as far as financing — I believe it’s public safety and I think it’s our charge on the city council. It’s what the city charter tells us we should be doing, so I’m not scared of doing it."

The $60-million price tag would equate to a 3-cents per $100 valuation increase on city property taxes to pay off the 20-year loan. That means $42.20 more a year for a median home. If the project were to go to a vote by the citizens and be rejected, the council would be required to wait three years before pursuing it again.

Mayor Dan Pope, and council members Shelia Patterson Harris and Steve Massengale said they’d like to see this go to a vote. Last year, Pope and Massengale were critical in their election campaigns that the bonds for Citizens Tower didn’t go to a vote.

The voiced opinions came after city manager Jarrett Atkinson presented the council with three potential funding options: the voter-approved bonds, the council-approved bonds or a "pay-as-you-go" approach. Paying with cash instead of financing the project, according to Atkinson, would require 1.74 cents from the property tax rate a year. With that, he said a substation could get built every three years, and the entire project would take more than 11 years.

Every member of the council believed this was too long.

"My thought is PD needs to get out of the building they’re in," said Gibson. "I think we have kicked this can down the road way, way too long. I’m saying that as a city, period. I think nobody has wanted to make this decision and I think it’s time to just do it."

Funding three police substations and a new headquarters would replace the plan to turn what is now City Hall into the Lubbock Police Department headquarters once city staff vacate the building and move into Citizens Tower. Finding a new home for the police department was often cited by the prior council as a reason for refurbishing the deteriorating Omni Building - now called Citizens Tower.

Members of the council who were part of the vote on Citizens Tower in 2014, especially Gibson, are hesitant to change course. But Gibson said she’s comfortable in voting for this if a new police headquarters is cheaper than renovating City Hall, and there’s a buyer lined up for City Hall once city staff moves into Citizens Tower.

After it was clear this was the majority opinion of the council, Pope asked what to do next. There was a moment of silence before it was then recommended that a resolution be placed on the next council meeting to vote on a course of action. Pope and Joy recommended that there be a public input/education period before the final vote.

So Pope told city staff to put a resolution on the council agenda for Aug. 24 that says the city council is pursuing a Public Safety Improvement Project in 2017. Pope said it will set a period of time aside (potentially 45 days) the council wants to host public hearings and try to educate the public before the council votes on the bonds.

"I’m disappointed that we’re looking at CO’s, but I still feel it’s very important to tell the ‘why’ of the process," said Massengale. "I think a bond election holds us accountable and forces us to visit with the taxpayers to tell them why these are needs. We still want to satisfy that requirement and that accountability, even if we issue CO’s."

Other itemsCitizens packed the council chamber Thursday evening to voice displeasure over high utility bills. A few citizens spoke during citizen comments over their frustration with rates and incorrect meter readings. Pope said the council is listening, adding the city wants to be transparent. He said the city will work to bring all the utility directors and upset citizens together to answer specific questions.Council gave final approval to a motion allowing non-motorized vehicles to transport passengers in downtown Lubbock. The new law will allow for such transportation as horse-drawn carriages and bicycle rickshaws downtown.Council voted to transfer 1.5 acres of land in West Lubbock to the Lubbock Boys & Girls Club to build a new club facility. The land is located on the north side of Duran Park at 26th Street and Kewanee Avenue. The Boys & Girls Club says it hope to have the facility open by the beginning of the 2018 school year.Council voted to adopt the same tax rate of 53.802 cents per $100 for the next fiscal year. This tax rate is higher than the effective tax rate - raising city revenue by more than $4.1 million. The council will now host the first public hearing on the proposed tax rate at the next meeting August 24.

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